Machine for opening flat fold cartons



A ril 22, 1958 W. F. PITTMAN ET AL MACHINE FOR OPENING FLAT FOLD CARTONS5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15. 1954 maze I'l RTTMA N, GEOEGE B. BERGEN,Smeewaao D. WEMANN,

' INVENTORS BY T April 22, 1958 w. F. Pl TTMAN ET AL 2,831,407

v MACHINE FOR OPENING FLAT FOLD CARTONS Filed Feb. 15, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet 2 WALTER EBTTMAN; GEORGE E. BEQGEN,

' SHEEWOOD D. WEMAA/N, 59 INVENTORS.

April 22, 1958 w. F. PITTMAN ETAL MACHINE FOR OPENING FLAT FOLD CARTONS5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 15, 1954 1.752 E Err/WAN, GEDQGE R. BERGEN,

QSHEQWOOD D. WEMA/w,

INVENTORS.

4 (Ly yi xk ATTORNEY.

April 22, 1958 w. PlTTMAN ETAL 2,831,407

MACHINE FOR OPENING FLAT FOLD CARTONS Filed Feb. 15 1954 5 Sheets-Sheep4 "[4052 1 P/rTMA/v,

6501265 B. BEQGEN, Smsewaao D. WEMANM Juvewroes.

Zia- 12 ArroeA/Ex A ril 22, 1958 w. F. PlTTMAN EIAL 2,831,407 I MACHINEFOR OPENING FLAT FOLD CARTONS Filed Feb. 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 7a 77M4752 1 PITT/WAN, 050265 R. BEQGEN,

QSHEEWOOD D. WEMANN,

BY INVENTOQS.

r4 TrOEWE 3 United States Patent 2,831,407 MACHINE FOR OPENING FLAT FOLDCARTONS Walter F. Pittman, Huntington Park, George R. Bergen,Montebello, and Sherwood D. Wiemann, Lynwood, Calif., assignors toFibreboard Paper Products Corporation, a corporation of DelawareApplication February 15, 1954, Serial No. 410,239 7 Claims. (Cl. 93-53)This invention relates to a machine for opening or setting up fiatfolded cartons or bottle carriers.

Certain cartons, for example those designed for carlying six or moreunits of bottled or canned beverage are manufactured and shipped in flatform. In this form the four carton walls are permanently joined at thecorners while the bottom panels and carton partitions assume fiatpositions between the flat folded walls. To open or set up the cartonfor use, the longer or side walls are spread apart and hinged abouttheir corner connections with the end walls so that the four wallsassume the configuration of a gradually widening parallelogram untilthey define a rectangle. As this rectangular position is assumed, thebottom panels have moved into cooperating interlocked positions to forma bottom for the carton and partition and handle members have alsoassumed their functional positions.

To save space and facilitate handling of these cartons, it is desirablethat they be set up immediately before use, preferably a few at a timebut with suflicient rapidity to insure a constant supply to the user orpacker who inserts the canned or bottle merchandise to produce amarketable package of six units.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a machine that willreceive a large number of fiat folded cartons and through improvedefficient mechanism quickly set up cartons from this supply one at atime.

A further object of the invention is the provision in such a machine ofmeans to stop the setting up action automatically when a predeterminednumber of set up cartons has been made available and automatically toreinitiate the action when one or more of the available cartons isremoved from the machine.

Further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention aremade apparent in the following specification wherein reference is madeto the accompanying drawings for a detailed description of theinvention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine embodying the presentinvention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same machine,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III-HI of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of certain parts taken on the lineVII-VII of Fig. 4,

Fig. 8 is a detail view taken on the line VIIIVIII of Fig. 4,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. 2,

Fig. 10 is a view of the detail illustrated in Fig. 9. taken on the lineX-X thereof,

Cir

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the carton spreadingmechanism taken on the line XI-XI of Fig. 4,

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view in detail of a portion of a carton feedingmechanism,

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view in elevation of one of the cams illustratedin Fig. 8,

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are fragmentary plan views illustrating differentpositionsof the spreading mechanism,

Fig. 17 is a similar view illustrating the final operation of thesetting up of a carton, and

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a set up carton typical of the kind towhich this invention pertains.

One of the many types of flat fold cartons that may be opened or set upby the machine of the present invention is shown in Fig. 18 ascomprising front and back walls 20, end walls 21, partitions 22 and ahandle member 23. Bottom panels for the carton, only partially shown inFig. 5, are better illustrated at 24 in Fig. 11 wherein they are shownas folded into the space between the front and back panels 20 togetherwith the partition members when the carton is in its flat foldedposition. In Fig. 11 the carton is shown just as it starts to spreadtoward its open or set up position.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the machine of the present inventionis illustrated as comprising a work surface or table 25 supported at aconvenient height by legs 26 and conventional bracing. The table 25supports a supply magazine for-folded cartons, the sides of which aremade up of bars shown at 27 with inwardly spaced bars 28 arranged tohold the cartons against upward movement. All of the bars 27 and 28 aresuitably curved to follow the contour of a stack of cartons indicated inFig. 1 at 29 which stack assumes a curved configuration due to the factthat the folded cartons are thicker adjacent their bottom edges than attheir top edges. The cartons in the stack 29 are preferably urgeddownwardly and forwardly by an angular member 30 which engages the rearedge of a stack and is urged to compress the stack by a cable 31 trainedover suitable chutes and supporting a weight 32. The lower or forwardend of the stack of cartons in the magazine assumes an upright positionwith the lower carton edges resting on the table 25. The cartons arenormally held against forward movement by stops shown at 33 in Fig. 2 onthe forward ends of the magazine bars 27.

Upon each cycle of operation of the machine, the first or leadingcarton, which is illustrated at 34 in Figs. 14 to 15 inclusive, firstassumes the position illustrated in Fig. 14. It is then acted upon by awedge-like member to be slightly spread at its bottom edge as indicatedin Fig. 15. At this point, a pair of spreader fingers enter between theseparated portions of the carton and spread them further to the positionillustrated in Fig. 16 Whereupon a pusher plate engages one corner ofthe carton and forces it into the rectangular position illustrated inFig. 17. The operation of the mechanisms which accomplish these stepsare now to be described.

To effect the initial spreading of the carton which is illustrated inFig. 15, a separator wheel 35, best shown in Fig. 10, is mounted on arotatable shaft 36, see also Figs. 1, 5 and 9. This wheel carries aradially projecting wedge-like cam 37 and a stop plate 38 with aradially projecting helical contour, best illustrated in Fig. 9. Theleading carton in the supply magazine has its front wall 340 pressedagainst the stop member 38, see Fig. 10, and as the shaft 36 starts torotate, the Wedge member 37 enters between the front wall 34a and theback wall 34b of the carton until the wedge member spreads the back wallbackwardly to the position illustrated at 340 in Fig. 10. The mechanismfor effecting this rotation of the shaft 36 is shown in Figs. 1 and 5wherein the shaft is shown as having a downwardly depending arm 39cmbraced by the bifurcated end of a lever 40 pivotally supported as by apin 41 and having a roller 42 at its lower end engaged by a cam 43 onthe main cam shaft 44 of the machine. A spring 45 urges the lever towardthe left as viewed in Fig. but upon each complete rotation of the camshaft 44, the cam 43 engages the roller 42 to swing the lever toward theright or into the broken line position illustrated in Fig. 5. Thisswings the arm 39 in a counterclockwise direction and thus rocks theshaft 36 to effect the separation illustrated in Fig. and to retract thestop member 38 by counterclockwise rotation thereof as viewed in Fig. 9.

This first or initial separation of the front and back walls of thecarton admits a pair of spreader fingers shown at 47 and 48 in Fig. 4 asnormally positioned below the level of the table and also illustrated inFigs. 14 to 17 inclusive.

the carton formed by .the wedge 37 and the spreader finger 48 swingsthrough an are as illustrated in Figs. 14 to 17, there being an arcuateslot 49, see Fig. 2, formed in the top of the table 25 to accommodatethis motion. The spreader fingers 47 and 43 are carried on areciprocable cross head which, as shown in Fig. 4, comprises acylindrical shaft 50 with a slide 51 thereon to support the finger 47. Asquare shaft 52 carries a slide 53 which through a radial arm 54 carriesthe finger 48 (see also Fig. 7). A bridge 55 connects the slide 51 and asplit collar 56 disposed beneath the slide 53 so thatupon upwardmovement of the bridge 55 both slides 51 and 53 rise and project thefingers through and above the table top 25 to the positions illustratedin dotted lines in Fig. 4. To obtain this upward movement a bracket 156extends downwardly from the bridge 55 and has a roller 57 at its lowerend engageable by a cam 58. The cam 58 is also on the main cam shaft 44so that upon each operating cycle of the machine the fingers are raisedand lowered by the action of the cam. Immediately after being raised,the finger 48 is swung through the arcuate path illustrated in Figs. 14to 17 and this is accomplished by partial rotation of the square shaft52 (see Figs. 4 and 7) with respect to which this finger 43 slides.Oscillation of the square shaft 52 in properly timed sequence isaccomplished by mechanism illustrated in Figs. 4 and 8 which comprises alever 59 fixed to the lower end of the shaft. This lever is connected bya link 6!) with a lever 61 pivotally supported as at 62 and having aroller 63 intermediate its ends. This roller 63 is engaged by a face cam64 also carried by the cam shaft 44 so that upon rotation of the camshaft, the lever 61 is swung in a manner to effect oscillation of thesquare shaft 52 and the necessary swinging movement of the finger 48which spreads the carton to the position illustrated in Fig. 16. Ofcourse upon completion of the cycle, the finger 43 returns to itsoriginal position and both fingers 4-7 and 48 are retracted to theirnormal position below the level of the table 25. t

In the process of assuming the position shown in Fig. 16, the carton haseasily been withdrawn from behind the stop member 33 on one of the bars27. At this point and after withdrawal of the fingers 47 and 48 a pusherplate acts against the projecting corner of the carton to urge it to arectangular position as illustrated in Fig. 17. This pusher plate isshown at 66 in Figs. 3, 6 and 14 to 16 and is supported on a verticalmember 67 carried on a plate 68 slidable in a guide way or track 69disposed beneath the table 25. A spring 70 urges the pusher plate to itsretracted position and a link 71 connects it with a lever 72 pivotallysupported as at 73. The lower end of the lever 72 has a roller 74thereon engageable by a cam 75 also fixed to the cam shaft 44.Consequently, during each cycle of operation the cam 75 swings the lever72 to the broken line position illustrated in Fig. 3 thus causing thepusher plate to advance against These spreader fingers are projectedupwardly into the space between the walls of a the corner of the cartonto urge the carton from the shape illustrated in Fig. 16 to therectangular shape illustrated in Fig. 17.

Previously set up cartons are illustrated at 76 in Fig. 16 and thesecartons are urged forwardly into a delivery chute as each new carton issetup. This delivery chute as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has side walls 77and 78 which project beyond the edge of the table 25 and bottom bars 79which form an extension of the table surface. The chute is preferablysufficiently long to hold five or six cartons after they have been setup.

lt is desirable that the leading carton be firmly urged forwardlyagainst the stop 38 on the oscillating member 35 so that the wedge 37 isproperly positioned with respect the carton to enter between the frontand back walls as illustrated in Fig. 10. To insure this accurateposition of the front carton, a pair of pressure feed dogs are provided,one of these dogs being illustrated at St) in Fig. 12 as mounted on ashaft 81. The shaft 81 (see also Figs. 1 and 5) is supported in bearingbrackets 82 directly beneath the table 25 and may be rocked to swing thedogs upwardly against the leading few cartons as shown in the full lineposition in Fig. 12 or upon being rocked in the opposite direction willretract the dogs as to the broken line position. This rocking motion isaccomplished by a curved lever 84 (see Figs. 1 and 5) which is fixed tothe shaft 81 and extends downwardly therefrom with its lower endprojecting, as best shown in Fig. 4, to a position between the bridge 55and the arm 54 which supports the finger 48. In the normal retractedposition of the cross head, the lever 84 assumes its downward positionand the fingers 8i) assume their upward or full line positionillustrated in Fig. 12. During the initial upward movement of the crosshead, the lever 84 is swung upwardly and the fingers are retracted totheir broken line position. After the cross head with its fingers 47 and48 has accomplished its function and is retracted, the presser fingersagain assume their operative position where they remain until thecommencement of the next cycle.

The cam shaft 44 which carries all of the cams for effecting theoperations hereinbefore described is mounted in bearing brackets (seeFig. l) and is driven by a train of gears 91 from a clutch shaft 92supported for rotation in brackets 93. An el ectric motor 94 drives aclutch dog 95 rotatable on the clutch shaft through suitable pulleys anda belt 96. A cooperating clutch dog )7 is splined against rotation butslidable on the shaft 92 and urged into engagement by a spring as whichbears against a collar 99 on the shaft. The retractable clutch dog 97carries a cam lfll). A lever 101 cooperating with this cam may be raisedand lowered by a link 102 which connects it with an actuating solenoid183.

When the machine is in operation, the motor 94 is energized and rotatescontinuously and the clutch is normally engaged. Consequently the camshaft 4-4 is continuously rotated and cartons are set up one at a timeuntil a condition arises which disengages the clutch and perunits thecam shaft to come to rest. In the position shown in Fig. l, a conditionobtains where the lever 101 has fallen to a position adjacent the cam1&0 on the retractable clutch member 97. Consequently upon furtherrotation of this clutch member, the cam 1% in striking the lever willretract the clutch member $7 and disengage the clutch. The solenoid 163may, however, be energized to raise the lever 161 and permit engagementof the clutch. A switch to control the solenoid is disposed adjacent theouter end of the discharge chute as shown at in Figs. 1 and 2 and thisswitch has an actuating finger 196 that projects inwardly of thedelivery chute. As cartons are set up and urged through the chute,filling of the chute will cause the foremost carton therein to contactthe switch finger 166 to open the switch and deenergize the solenoid 193through a circuit not shown.

Consequently when the machine is set in operation by energization of themotor 94, it will, under normal circumstances start to open or set upcartons advancing them through the delivery chute until five or sixcartons have been set up, depending upon the length of the chute, anduntil the first carton contacts and opens the switch 105. This drops thelever 101 to effect disengagement of the clutch and the machine, withthe exception of the motor, comes to rest. As packers remove cartonsfrom the delivery chute for use and specifically When the foremostcarton in the chute is removed, the switch lever 106 is released toeffect energization of the solenoid 103 and raising of the lever 101 andthe clutch is again engaged to effect operation of the machine until thedelivery chute is again filled with set up cartons. In this manner, atleast one carton is always available in the delivery chute and theinstant that this carton is removed operation of the machine isinitiated to set up further cartons so that the supply of cartons readyfor use is never depleted though most of the cartons remain in theirflat folded form in which they occupy a minimum of space.

We claim:

1. In a machine for opening fiat folded cartons the combination with amagazine for supporting a supply of folded cartons of means to spreadthe folded walls of one of said cartons which comprises, a rotary memberwith a radially projecting wedge positioned to enter between said wallsupon rotation thereof, said wedge increasing in thickness in thedirection of the periphery of said rotary member.

2. In a machine for opening fiat folded cartons the combination with amagazine for supporting a supply of folded cartons of means to spreadthe folded walls of oneof said cartons which comprises, a rotary memberwith a radially projecting wedge positioned to enter between said wallsupon rotation thereof and a stop member projecting radially from oneside of the rotary member in a position to engage one side of theleading carton in said supply to position the carton for reception ofthe wedge between its folded portions, said stop member being withdrawnfrom such engagement upon rotation of the rotary member, the position ofsaid wedge being such as to progressively spread the carton walls uponrotation after it enters between them.

3. In a machine for opening flat folded cartons the combination with amagazine for supporting a supply of folded cartons of means to spreadthe folded walls of one of said cartons which comprises, a rotary memberwith a radially projecting wedge positioned to enter between said wallsupon rotation thereof, a pair of fingers, means to insert said fingersin the space between the carton walls provided by said wedge, and meansto move one of said fingers while the other remains relativelystationary to effect further spreading of the walls.

4. In a machine for opening flat folded cartons the combination with amagazine for supporting a supply of folded cartons of means to spreadthe folded walls of one of said cartons which comprises, a rotary memberwith a radially projecting wedge positioned to enter between said wallsupon rotation thereof, a pair of fingers, means to insert said fingersin the space between the carton walls provided by said wedge, means tomove one of said fingers while the other remains relatively stationaryto effect further spreading of the walls, and means to apply pressureagainst a corner of the partially opened carton to urge it to assume arectangular shape.

5. In a machine for opening flat folded cartons the combination with amagazine for supporting a supply of folded cartons of means to spreadthe folded walls of one of said cartons which comprises, a rotary memberwith a radially projecting wedge positioned to enter between said wallsupon rotation thereof, a pair of fingers, means to insert said fingersin the space between the carton walls provided by said wedge, means tomove one of said fingers while the other remains relatively stationaryto effect further spreading of the walls, means to withdraw saidfingers, and means to apply pressure against a corner of the partiallyopened carton to urge it to assume a rectangular shape.

6. In a machine for opening flat folded cartons the combination with amagazine for supporting a supply of folded cartons with a leading cartontherein, a rotary member with a radially projecting wedge positioned toenter between the walls of said leading carton, a pair of finger-likemembers, means to insert said members into the space between the cartonwalls provided by said wedge, and means to cause spreading apart of saidmembers to effect spreading apart of the carton walls.

7. In a machine for opening flat folded cartons the combination with amagazine for supporting a supply of folded cartons of means to spreadthe folded walls in the leading carton in said supply which comprises, arotary member with a radially projecting wedge positioned to enterbetween and gradually spread said walls when it rotates, a stop memberprojecting from one side of the rotary member in a position to engagethe leading side of the leading carton in said supply, and meansoperable while said stop member is so positioned to press said leadingcarton against the stop member to hold it in position for reception ofthe wedge between its walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,355,488 McKenney Oct. 12, 1920 1,495,192 MacNaughtan May 27, 19242,359,384 Poole et a1. Oct. 3, 1944 2,572,800 Carkhuff Oct. 23, 19512,665,044 Monroe et al. Jan. 5, 1954

